CANCER sufferer Jamie Glover, whose inspirational story touched hearts across York, has lost his battle for life.

The 21-year-old, from Appleton Roebuck, died in St James's Hospital in Leeds on Sunday. The talented musician had suffered from Hodgkins Lymphona, a rare cancer, for several years.

Today his former teacher Tony Gavin, head of Burnholme Community College, said he was "devastated" by Jamie's untimely death.

"He was a very special lad, a very talented, very powerful individual," he said.

"The Jamie Glover that I will always remember was enthusiastic and threw himself wholeheartedly into everything that he did.

"He had a fantastic career ahead of him."

Jamie's tragic case was first featured in the Evening Press in March last year, when he appealed for stem cell donors to come forward to help him beat the killer disease.

More than 200 people turned out to a donor session in Burnholme Community College, in a bid to help Jamie find a vital match.

Finally, a German donor was found through the Anthony Nolan Trust and the transplant was a success.

But the aggressive disease returned after Jamie developed a condition called graft-versus-host-disease which affected his immune system, and in February he was given only weeks to live.

A brief, but remarkable, recovery followed, which gave the life-loving musician time to begin working on an album about his struggle with the disease, as well as embark on a quad-biking and walking holiday in the Lake District.

In May last year, staff at the King's Arms pub - where Jamie worked as a barman - raised more than £3,000 for York Hospital's haematology unit after asking the musician where he wanted the cash to go.

Today, licensee Mike Hartley said: "Jamie was a bright, young, talented musician who never let his illness diminish his love of life. Even in the midst of his treatment he always had a ready smile and a jokey sense of humour."

Kay Buscombe, of the Anthony Nolan Trust, said: "The trust is very saddened to hear of Jamie's death. He inspired hundreds of people to come forward to our clinic."

To find out more about the Anthony Nolan Trust, phone the 24-hour donor helpline on 0901 8822234.

Updated: 09:19 Thursday, June 16, 2005